Communal tension, curfew in Ujjain town

Indefinite curfew has been imposed in Ujjain district’s Mahidpur town on Tuesday after clashes between two communities.

Indefinite curfew has been imposed in Ujjain district’s Mahidpur town on Tuesday after clashes between two communities.

Trouble started when a group of people participating in the Milad-ul-Nabi — Prophet Mohammed’s birthday — procession took a different route instead of the scheduled one and headed towards the Jail Road where a Bhagwat Katha recital was on, said Range Inspector general of police Pawan Jain.

Despite police asking those taking part in the religious procession to take the scheduled route, they did not budge leading to the clash.

The police resorted to lathicharge to stop the youth but they started pelting stones.

The IGP said 50 rounds of tear gas shells and 15 rounds of air fire were used to disperse the mob. One person sustained bullet injuries and is critical.

Six policemen, including the Mahidpur police station incharge, and 10 others have been injured.

Armed police forces of over 200 jawans including Rapid Action Force has been deployed in the area as curfew has been clamped in the town.

Jain said the situation is under control, adding that the decision to relax the curfew in view of Holi, on Wednesday, would be taken later.

Nearly 25 people were arrested so far by the police in this regard, the sources said.